Skerries Sailing Club Regatta 2016

The 83rd Annual Skerries Regatta took place over last weekend (July 23rd/24th) with over 37 dinghies and 10 cruisers competing. The weather was untypically friendly (except the last lap of the last race as Gerry Byrne discovered!) allowing all 4 dinghy races being completed in F2/3 but typically variable enough to provide challenging conditions. Liam Dineen and his team (Micheline and Helen) on Brian Lennon’s cruiser provided excellent courses for all. The cruiser class completed the annual Howth to Skerries race for the Rockabill Cup which was won by Sean Davis. Well done to our regatta fleet winners – Sam Shiels in Mermaids, Darragh Kelleher in Lasers, Stuart Burns in Class I and Fionnan O’Connor in the Optimists – full results below. 18 mermaids competed in the Regatta – this was the fleet’s biggest turn out this season to date as they gear up for their championships in two weeks in Howth. As always the regatta was supported by many many club volunteers who gave up time on the water to assist – in particular thanks to Ronnie Horan and Olive Parker as Safety officers and Grainne McGrotty in the Race office. Good job by Donal Lynam in looking after the house and the BBQ function. Many thanks to all the Rib drivers and assists and of course the sandwich makers who gave up their time. Our thanks to our sponsors – Blakes Cross and Paul Browne (and for organising the band on Saturday night) – for their support and the vice commodore, Kathryn Collins for organising the refreshments. Well done to Ross on his first regatta as Hon Sailing Sec.

A special prize was presented by Sinead Leahy – the Brian Leahy Memorial Trophy – and her daughters Aisling, Emma and Rachel in memory of their father Brian, a fond laser sailor in our club for many years. We also welcomed his parents Michael and Jean Leahy for the occasion. This will be a perpetual prize for the best single handed (adult) boat in the SSC Regatta. Thank you Sinead and congratulations to Darragh Kelleher on willing the inaugural race.